Capital Markets Accelerate with 68 New Licences and Enhanced Digital Services

The Capital Market Authority charts an ambitious course for Abu Dhabi's financial sector, streamlining licensing procedures and deepening its regulatory framework as the emirate positions itself as a destination for long-term international investment.

The Capital Market Authority has licensed 68 new companies during the first nine months of 2026, whilst more than 30 licensing applications remain under active review. The expansion reflects a broader momentum within Abu Dhabi’s financial markets, where the authority continues to refine both its regulatory environment and the accessibility of its services to qualified applicants and international financial institutions.

Waleed Al Awadhi, Chief Executive of the CMA, characterised the period as one of purposeful expansion paired with rigorous oversight. The total number of licensed companies has grown by 43 per cent year on year, whilst the number of accredited professionals has risen by 64 per cent over the same timeframe. These figures underscore the deepening maturity and sophistication of the market, though the authority maintains unwavering standards across licensing requirements, financial solvency and corporate governance.

A defining feature of the authority’s approach is its commitment to international regulatory engagement. During the nine month period, the CMA transmitted more than 250 fit and proper requests to regulators across international jurisdictions, each inquiry integral to the assessment of applicants and the maintenance of the high regulatory standards that protect investor confidence. This meticulous process reflects Abu Dhabi’s determination to attract capital from jurisdictions where rigorous oversight is itself valued.

The authority is advancing a suite of technological and procedural refinements intended to reduce friction in market entry without compromising oversight. A dedicated initiative aims to process applications meeting all requirements within seven working days. Simultaneously, the CMA is re engineering licensing and employee accreditation procedures through digital innovation and artificial intelligence, eliminating unnecessary administrative barriers while sustaining compliance with regulatory requirements. As we reported in our coverage of capital markets’ 43 per cent growth earlier this year, these operational enhancements continue to strengthen the market’s infrastructure.

Trading activity reflects sustained confidence in the market. The combined trading value on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange and Dubai Financial Market reached approximately AED408.2 billion during the first nine months of 2026, with foreign investors accounting for 49 per cent of total trading value. Capital increases totalled approximately AED3.4 billion, demonstrating continued reliance on the capital markets as a source of financing for business expansion.

The CMA has approved the share offering of DIP Holding PLC, marking a significant development in the market’s ability to facilitate new listings. The company announced in October its intention to offer shares to the public and list them on the Dubai Financial Market. Such offerings broaden investment opportunities and deepen the capital markets’ role in providing companies with diverse financing options.

Looking to the coming months, the authority has identified several strategic priorities. These include establishing a regulatory framework for the Investor Protection Fund, introducing rules for identifying systemically important entities to support proactive supervision and market stability, and regulating the transfer of registration of public joint stock companies from free zones to the mainland. In 2027, the CMA will direct focused attention to emerging technologies including asset tokenisation, expanding investment opportunities within a transparent and flexible regulatory framework.

The authority is also advancing workforce development through collaboration with the Middle East Investor Relations Association. The Emirati Investor Relations Development Programme aims to train more than 100 Emirati professionals in investor relations, strengthening both national expertise and corporate governance practices across the market.

Domestic investment funds have grown by 94 per cent year on year to 97 during the first nine months of 2026, whilst their assets under management increased by 30 per cent to AED28.6 billion, reflecting growing confidence in locally focused investment vehicles.

What it means for Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi’s capital markets are becoming an increasingly sophisticated destination for long term investment, both domestic and international. The expansion in licensed companies, accredited professionals and investment funds demonstrates the market’s ability to attract and support a broadening range of financial activities. By streamlining procedures and enhancing digital services while maintaining rigorous regulatory standards, the CMA is signalling that accessibility and oversight are not in tension but rather mutually reinforcing. This positioning strengthens Abu Dhabi’s competitive standing within the region and globally.

The CMA’s emphasis on international regulatory cooperation and investor protection directly supports Abu Dhabi’s broader economic diversification strategy. As the emirate seeks to deepen its role as a financial centre, these efforts to build confidence in market institutions, enhance corporate governance and facilitate transparent capital flows create the conditions for sustained, long term foreign investment. The focus on emerging technologies and the infrastructure to support them suggests that Abu Dhabi’s capital markets will remain at the forefront of financial innovation.

Source: WAM

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